Parking device



July 27, 1937. I c, c, MAGEE I 2,088,300

PARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

FIG4. FIG.'5.

' 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY-3;:

.iuly27,1937. c. c. MAGEE 2,0883% PARKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet s Jufly 2'1; 11%? 5 MA E 2,088,300

PARKING D EVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 644 a W -INVENTOR.

A VTTORNEYS.

Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT psi-ice swam Dual Parking'bfeter company;

okla acorporatleuofnelaware Application mm 1:, ms, Serial No. mm

Claims. (01. 110-1115) My invention relates.to mechanism for checking time, and more particularly to mechanism for determining or indicating when a predetermined period of time elapses after the mechanism has been placed in operation.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a device for regulating and controlling vehicle parking.

Otherobject's of the invention are to provide a in device of this class which is new, novel. practical andfof. utility; which will be positive in action, simple in construction and comparatively cheap to manufacture; which may be placed inoperation only by the release of a locking mechanism, preferably after the insertion of a coin, and after being placed in'operation will automatically give a signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed; and, which will be eflicient in accomplishing all the P p ses for which it is intended.

The device may be used, of course, for check ing time for any desired purpose.

'- 'Ihe device consists substantially of a housing,

preferably adapted to be mounted on, a post permanently set or anchored in' the street curb at each parking place; a signal carried by the housing; a timing mechanism for actuating the signal; and, coin controlled apparatus for permittinsthctiming mechanismtobestartedinto so operation.

The particular type of coin operated mechanism disclosed herein is not claimed in this application as the invention. since it is obvious that various types of coin operated mechanisms could 5 be. used.

' -With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear. my invention consists in the construction, novel features, and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described. pointed 40 out in the claims hereto appended, and illustrated in the accompanying four sheet drawing, g which.

Figure l is a front elevational view of the device withmost oi the housing broken away: 4s I'igJisadetailofthemainshaft;

Figs. 3,4, 5, and 8 are details of various elements carried by the shaft;

I'ig. 'l is a rear view of the mechanism shown so Hg. 8 is a bottom view of the mechanism shown in Ilgs. 1 and 'l: a

" H ofllst-iz w.

Iigai andli'aredetailsofa'camelement so carried by the main shaft; Y

'for driving the shaft I to rotate overa'nd to- 9 is a sectional view taken along the line Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively bottom plan and rear eievationai views of a slightly different embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, detailing a portion of the device.- 5

like characters'pf reference designate like a parts in all the figures.

It is understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size. shape, weight and ,othcr details of construction, within the scope of my 10 invention may be resorted to without sacrificing any of the advantages. and without departing from the spirit or broad principle of my invention; and it is also understood that the drawinss are to be interpreted as being illustrative and not it restrictive.

A description of one practical embodiment of the invention follows:

The reference numeral l indicates as a whole the top plate of a housing, and the reference numerals 2 and 3. respectively, indicate the front and rear edges of the plate 1. Depending spaced bearing supports or hangers I and I are rigidly connected .to or made integral with the nether surface of the plate. I, and a main shaft 8 is' hookingfrom the iournaled in the hangers. front, the left hand end of the shaft I extends outwardly through the left hand end it! of the housing, and its extreme left hand end is provided with a knob or hand wheel ill, Fig. 14, whereby the shaft may be manually rotated. and a spring III is provided in connection therewith for returning the hand wheel and the shaft i to its normal radial position. Throughout the description herein wherever right hand" or left hand" occurs, it is intended to mean while looking from in front of the housing. Y

A coin operated mechanism I having a slot I for receivingacoinisattachedtotheplate l adjaoent the left hand end of the housing, and adjacent the right hand end is a housing I containing ausualgeartrainofanyde'siredtype wardstherearata niformspccd.

At the right hand end of the housing and adiacent the rear wall bracket or signal support II, to the lower portion of which ispivotaily connectcdnn, to swing in a connected to the bracket I3. -At the lowermost left hand corner of the portion I2 is provided an integral depending leg I4 having a foot I5 (Figs. 1, 8, and 9) turned perpendicularly forwardly therefrom. At a point adjacent and slightly to the left of the junction of the lower edge of the rectangular portion I2 and the elongated portion I3, the lower edge of the signal is provided with a second foot i6 which is also-turned perpendicularly forward from the signal. The oihces of the feet I5 and I6 will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The lower end of the hanger 4 is bifurcated by a superficial groove II (Figs. 1 and 7 which is in vertical alinement with the axis of the shaft 6, and pivotally mounted at one end upon a pin I8 extending through the hanger 4 transversely of the groove I1 is a latch arm I9, the free end of which extends toward the right beneath said shaft 3. The free end of latch arm is provided with an upstanding portion 23. The free end of the latch arm I9 is urged to normally remain at the upper end of its throw by downward pressure exerted upon the left hand end of the latch arm by a coil spring 2i (Fig. 1). The office of the latch arm I9 will be more fully described hereinbelow..

As may best be seen in Figs. 8 and 9, a de-- pending arm 22 is rigidly attached to or made integral with the nether surface of the plate I at a point slightly to the rear of the shaft 6 and approximately in alinement with the right hand edge of the signal II when the signal is at the upper end of its throw. The lower end of the arm 22 pivotally supports a latch member 23 which is adapted to move pivotally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the arm 22. The rearmost end 24 of the latch member 23 is of a length sufficient to pass into a position beneath the foot I5 of the signal II when the signal is swung to the uppermost end of its throw, and the length of the arm 22 is sufflcient to permit such passage when the latch member is partly rotated. The forward-most end of the latch member 23 is bifurcated, (Fig. 8), and extends towards the shaft 6 at a height slightly above the axis of the shaft (see Fig. '7) The ofllce of the latch member 23 is to contact the lower surface of the foot I5 and hold the signal II at the upper end of its throw when the member is rotated properly to bring its end 24 into engagement with said foot. The means for raising thesignal II and partially rotating the latch member 23 will be more fully described hereinbelow.

Anchored to the shaft 6 adjacent the right hand face of the hanger 4 by a set screw 25 is a combined set-collar and male clutch member 23. (Detail Figs. 2 and' 3.) The right hand face of the collar 26 is provided with a perpendicularly outstanding clutch pin 21, and a cam 23, having an arcuate free end portion 29 (Fig. 3), is formed integral with or is attached firmly to the collar in such a manner that it projects outwardly from the periphery thereof. The cam 28 is of a length sufficient to cause its arcuate end 29 to contact g the upper surface of the free end of the latcharm I9 and force it out of its normal position in a direction away from the shaft 3 when the shaft 3 is partially rotated.

upon the shaft '3 next adjacent to the collar 23.

The left hand end face of the member 33, or

in other words the outer face of the disk 3I, has an arcuate indented portion 33 having abrupt shoulders 39 and 43 at its ends. This indented portion forms the female clutch member and the shoulder 39 is adapted to be engaged by the pin 21 when the member 33 is moved longitudinally to bring the disk 3i into contact with the collar 23 and when the shaft 3 is then rotated in a direction to cause the pin 21 to travel downwardly and toward the rear.

As a means for causing the longitudinal movement of the member 33 toward the collar" 23 when the coin mechanism I is operated, the following described structure is provided.

A depending rod 4I (Figs. 1 and 9) is made integral with or is attached firmly to the bottom anism I is operated. As previously stated above,

any-desired means may be used for moving the arm forwardly. A coil spring 45 .is provided around the upper end of the sleeve 42 for urging the sleeve to an axial position in which it will normally hold the arm 44 at the rearmost end of its throw. The lower end of the sleeve 42 is provided with a second arm 43 which extends perpendicularly outwardly therefrom at substantially a ninety degree angle from the direction in which the arm 44 extends. The sleeve 42 and the arms 44 and 43 form substantially a bellcrank. Thearm 43 passes towardthe rear of the housing directly beneath the member 33 and across the groove 33 therein, and is provided upon throw, the member 33 is moved by the projection 41 longitudinally upon the shaft 3 toward the collar 23. This movement brings the right hand edge of the arm 46 slightly to the left of the upstanding portion 23 of the latch I 4, and permits the spring 2I to force the portion 23 upwardly thus temporarily latching the arm 43 in that position. 7

It might well be stated at this point that the mechanism I is such that it is operated to move the arm 44 by the manual rotation ofthe previously described hand wheel on the left hand end of the shaft 3,'and this movement is so timed. that the arm 44 is moved and the member 33 is slid on the shaft 3 to the left hand end of its throw before the clutch-pin 21 has traveued m 1:

' rotated approximately forty-five degrees before the .cam engages the latch-arm i0 and forces it out of engagement with the arm '4' thus permitting the spring 4!, arm 46 and projection 41 to return the member 30 to .the right hand end of its throw which is its normal inactive position.

A spring IN and a stop, not shown, are provided at the left hand end portion of the shaft i for forcing the exterior hand wheel and the shaft C to assume a normal position with the cam 28 extending toward the front of the housing when the hand wheel is released after it has been partially rotated as previously described hereinabove. Referring now more particularly'to' Fig. 8, a description will be made of the structure whereby the previously described latch 23 is actuated.

- As best seen in Fig. 8, the bifurcated front end of the latch straddles the disk 23 of the member II, and consequently when the cam 28 forces the latch it out of engagement with the arm ,4, and when the member 30 is thus permitted to reto its normal position at the right hand end of its throw, the end 24 of the latch 23 is forced to assume a position in the path of travel of the foot]! of the signal ll. Therefore if the signal had been previously oved to the upper end of its throw, the end 2Q ould prevent its swinging downwardly so long as the latch 23 remained in that position. I

In Figs. 10 and 11 may best be seen the structure whereby the latch 23 may be moved to disengage the end 24 from the foot i5. Upon the rear peripheries of each of the disks 32 and .32 are provided angular parallel grooves 4| and 4! which areeof a depth equal to the depth of the previously described annular groove fl. The groove 44 in the disk 22 communicates with the ,left hand side of the groove 31 while the groove is is indented into the right hand face of the disk 38. A metal insert 50 is held in the groove 31 by a set screw SI and the right side of the lower end thereof is providedwith a bevelled portion 32. Since the bifurcated end of the latch2l straddles the disk 33, it may be seen that rotation of the member 30 in a directionto bring the point of the bevelled portion 52 first into con- 1 tact with the latch 28, will force the bifurcated end of the latch toward the left which will in turn withdraw the end 24 from beneath the foot I! of the signal.

The right hand end of the disk 33 is provided with a cylindrical cavity 53 the office of which will be more fully described hereinbelow.

As may best be seen in Fig.- 2;the right hand end portion of the shaft 8 is reduced in diameter and the; reduced portion I4 is provided with an axial bore and communicating with the'bore ii is a transverse groove 56 which encompasses approadma'tely one hundred eighty degrees of the circumference of the reduced portion. A drive shaft 51 (Figs. 1, 7 andii) has its left hand end portion inserted into the bore 55, and a collar 88 is rotatively positioned upon the reduced 9 tion 84 by a set screw 59 which is threaded transversely therethrough into the shaft 1 and which passes'through the groove the groove being greater in width than the diameter of the set screw. l

The connection between the collar 88 and the shaft I1 is thus rigid at all times, and when the shaft I is rotated in a forward direction the rear end of the groove 56 will contact the set screw I and force the shaft 51 to a similar rotation.

After the drive shaft ll has thus been partially rotated to wind the driving mechanism of the gear train, release of the hand wheel, through the oilice of the groove 58, will permit the shaft 6 to reassume its original position without imparting movement to the shaft Ill. The shaft 51 may then be rotated in a rearward direction for approximately one hundred eighty degrees independently of the shaft 6.

' In Fig. 6 is illustrated the left hand face of the collar 58 which is'provided with a rod 58a which extends into the cylindrical cavity 58 carried byv the right hand end of the disk 33 and which is slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the cavity. The rod 58a is of such a length and the cavity 53 is of such a comparative depth that engagement is maintained between the member 84 aiid'the collar 58 regardless of the possible position of the member 30 longitudinally upon the shaft 5;

To the lower portion of the periphery of the V collar 58 (Fig. 8) is rigidly attached by a stud bolt 60 a rearwardly extending arm 6| having its free end 62 (Fig. 7) slightly upturned. The arm 6| is'of the correct length to bring its free end into contact with the nether surface of the foot It on the signal II when the collar 58 is willciently rotated in a forward direction. The arm ii is the means whereby the signal is raisedand is so positioned radially upon the collar 58 that the signal is raised to the uppermost end of its throw before the end 24 of the latch 23 is urged by the disk 33 to the rearmost end of its throw. As may best be seen in Figs'l, 7, 8, and 9, the rearmost end 63 of the previously described arm 48 is operatively connected by a link 64 to a suitable counting device 65 so that the number of operations of the device may be ascertained.

. Operation Normally the arm 44 is at the rearmost end of its throw, the member 30 is at the right hand end of its throw, the latch I9 is out of engagement with the arm 46, the signal is down, the end 24 of the latch 23 is out of the path of travel of the foot I! carried-by the signal, and the gear train or power apparatus is idle.

A coin is inserted in the slot 8 and the exterior hand wheel I00 on the left hand end of the shaft 6 is turned forwardly toward the arm 44. The coin mechanism forces the arm 44 forwardly, thus, through the action of the arm 46 and projection 41, engaging the clutch '-members and causing the rotation in a similar direction of the released later as'the movement continues, by the,

arcuate end of the cam 28. Rotation of the collar 58 causes the arm 6i to contact the foot l8 and raise the signal H to the uppermost end of its throw. When the latch I9 is released by the cam 28, the member 30 is suddenly forced toward the right by action of the spring 45 and arm 46, which movement causes the end 24 of the latch 23 to assume a position beneath the foot l5 of the signal and thus hold it in place at the upper end of its throw.

The hand wheel is then released and the shaft 8 returns, through the action of the spring |8| in connection with the hand wheel I88, to its original position. However, since the gear train is adapted to drive the shaft 51 toward the rear at a uniform speed, the collar 58 and the member 88 can travel in that direction only as permitted by the gear train, however, the slot 55 is of sufficient length to permit the shaft 8 to'return to its original axial position without its 'end contacting the set-screw 58. It may be seen that the groove 56 permits a partial rotation ofthe shaft 8 in either direction without imparting a similar movement of the shaft 51 except when the clutch members are in engagement. The speed of the shaft 51 may be governed so that it reaches its original radial position only after a desired period of time has elapsed. When the member 38 finally reaches its approximate original position, the bevelled end 52 of the insert 58 in thegroove 81 will cause the bifurcated end of the latch 28 to move toward the left hand which will cause the end 24 of the latch to be withdrawn from beneath the foot l5. When this occurs, the signal will fall to its original position. The various parts of the mechanism will then.be in their original positions. I

It will be obvious that each successive reciprocation of the free end 63 of the arm 48 will operate the counting device 65 once, and once only.

Another coin may be inserted and the operation repeated regardless of whether or not the shaft 51 has been rotated suiiiciently to drop the signal.

In Figs. 12 and 13 is illustrated a slightly different embodiment of the invention, in which slightly different mechanism has been used for connecting the shaft 8 with the drive shaft 51, and in which a different means is shown for raising and lowering the signal.

- A rod 18 extends outwardly in both directions from the left hand end of the shaft 51, which shaft terminates short of the right hand end of the shaft 8. The shaft 51 is attached to the periphery of the right hand end of the member 88 by means of the two arms II and 12 which,

extend past the rod 18. The rod 18 passes between the arms II and i2 and is of a length greater than the distance between them. Therefore a turn of approximately one hundred eighty degrees maybe made by the shaft 8 without imparting a like movement to the shaft 5'|.

In the last above mentioned embodiment for raising and lowering the signal, the arm 45 has been replaced by an arm 48awhich in configuration is somewhat different from the arm 48. However, the front end of the arm 48a is mounted on the sleeve 42 the' same as was arm 48, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and its free or rear end is connected to the counting mechanism 85 in an identical manner. Also the arm 45a is also provided with the projection 41. Adjacent its rear end the arm 48a is provided with an extension 18 which projects toward the arcuately in a plane parallel to the plane of travel of the arm 46a and perpendicular to the plane of travel of the signal. To the flat arm I5 is pivotally connected by a screw 18, a plunger rod Tl the rear end portion of which passes through the previously described perforation in the projection 18 carried by the arm 48a. The perforation is somewhat larger than the plunger rod l1 and acts as a guide therefor as will be more fully described hereinbelow. An enlargement I8 is carried by the plunger rod to limit the extent to which it may be moved longitudinally. in the perforation. A retrieving spring 18 extends between the arms 48a and 15 and urges the arm 15 to normally remain at the rear end of its throw.

,The disks 82 and 33, and the run 31 are eliminated from this embodiment of the invention, and the right hand portion of the member 38 is made cylindrical. This cylindrical portion is I made with a peripheral projection or protuberance 80 which is adapted to contact the free end of the flat arm 15 and force it, against the action of the spring 18, toward the front of the devicewhen the member 38 is rotated. This movement of the arm 15 causes a longitudinal movement of the rod Tl away from the signal.

As may best be seen in Fig. 13, the signal II has in this embodiment been replaced by a signal l'la which in configuration is somewhat different from the original signal II, and which is pivotally mounted at a different point but is adapted to travel in a plane similar to that of the original signal The support l0 has been replaced by a similar support |8a carried by the plate I at a point adjacent its rear edge and substantially in alinement with the arm 48a when the arm is in its normal position.

1 The signal I la consists substantially of a flat plate having a sloping sided extension 8| extending from its lower edge intermediate its sides. The relative position of the extension 8| and the rod TI is such, and the pivotal point of the signal lla is so located, that when the signal is down and the arm 48a is moved to the left end of its throw, the rear end of rod ies to the left of the left hand edge of the extension; hence, when in this position, the rod may be urged ;by the spring 18 to travel longitudinally so that its rear end will extend slightly to the rear past the signal. However, when the signal is down and the arm 48a is at the right hand and of its is moved to the left end of its throw, and when the rod 11 is consequently permitted to move past the signal to the rear end of its throw, subsequent movement of the arm 46a to the right hand will cause the rod 11 to move sidewise in a like direction and its contact with the extension 8| will pivotally raise the signal lid to the uppermost end of its throw. The signal will be held in this position by the rod 11 until the member 30 is rotated by the power mechanism in housing 8 suihciently to bring the protuberence .88 into contact with the arm I5 and thus force the arm to the front end of its throw.

Forward movement of the arm 15 will withdraw the rod "from contact with the projection 8| and such withdrawal will permit the signal to fall to its lowermost position.

It is thought that the operation of the last mentioned embodiment has been sufficiently described hereinabove, and that further description of the operation would be superfluous.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and deposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the.

device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

It is thought that the structure herein disclosed is such that it would easily lend itself to the operation of one signal when the shaft 51 or the member-3ll is rotated in one direction, and to the operation of a different signal when the move-' ment is reversed. Alsothat electrical signals could be used insteadzof a semaphore signal.

Having thus described by invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by .Letters Patent,is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a first shaft and a second shaft, arranged end to end, axially aligned, and independently journaled; a clutch connecting the shafts; a spring driven power unit for drivingsaid first shaft in one direction; a'semaphore signal; manually operable coin controlled means for simultaneously winding said power unit and for moving. said signal'to a signalling position; means for maintaining said signal immovable in its signalling position; and means operatively connected to said first shaft for releasing said signal maintainingineans after a predetermined period of time; said signal, after it is released, adapted to return to a non-signalling position.

2. In a device of the class described, a drive shaft, a second shaft, operative connections for partially rotating the drive shaft in one direction by similar rotation of the second shaft, means for returning the second shaft to its original position when it is released, said connections permitting said return without movement to the drive shaft,-

and permitting the drive shaft to be partially rotated in a direction opposite to the first mentioned direction after the second shaft has been released without imparting movement to the second shaft, means for driving the drive shaft in the last mentioned direction, a semaphore signal permitted to swing in a vertical plane, means for raising the signal by rotation of the drive shaft in the first mentioned direction, meansfor retainingthe signal in its raised position, and

adapted to rotate the drive shaft in a direction 5 opposite to its driven direction by similar rotation of the second shaft, a signal pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, means'for raising the signal to its uppermost position, means operable by one of the clutch members for latching the signal in I its raised position, and means for releasing the signal by rotationof the drive shaft in its driven direction to a predetermined position.

4. In a device of the class described, a drive shaft, time controlled means for driving the shaft in one direction, a second shaft, operative connections for partially rotating thedrive shaft in -a direction opposite to its driven direction by similar rotation of ,the second shaft, means for returning the second shaft to its original position when it is released, said connection p rmitting the drive shaft to be partially rotated in the-first direction after the .second shaft has been released without imparting movement to the second shaft, a semaphore signal, means for raising the signal, means for maintaining the signal in its raised position, and means carried by the drive shaft for releasing said signal maintaining means, thus allowing the signal to drop to its inoperative position.

5,1 driveshaft; time controlled means fordriving the shaft in one direction; a second shaft; coin controlled operative connections between the two shafts whereby the drive shaft is free to rotate in its driven direction independent of said second shaft, but is positively rotated in the opposite direction as said second shaft is rotated in that direction; a semaphore signal; operative connections between the drive {shaft and the signal whereby the signal is moved to a signalling position as the drive shaft rotates in the direction opposite its driven direction; means for maintaining the signal in its signaling position; and means. for releasing said signal maintaining means after the elapse of a predetermined period of-time.

6. A drive shaft; time controlled means for driving the shaft in onerdirection'; a second shaft coin controlled operative connections between the 'two shafts whereby the drive shaft is free to rotate in its driven direction independent of said second shaft, but is positively rotated in the opposite direction as said second shaftis rotated in that direction; a semaphore signal; operative connections between the drive shaft and the signal whereby the signal is moved to a signaling position asthe drive shaft rotates in the direction opposite its driven direction; and is permitted to gravitate to a nonsignaling position after the elapse of a'predetermined period of time.

CARL C. MAGEE. 

